@[email protected]

Defending free expression as a human right. Lead on Cases & Policy @OversightBoard. (Formerly @Article19UN) 🇬🇧🇺🇳🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈. Usual disclaimers, etc.

[Somali Journalists Syndicate - SJS @sjs_Somalia]

🚨 For over two years, we have been reporting @Meta's Facebook violations against freedom of expression in Somaliland and Somalia.

We held a series of meetings, yet Meta never acknowledged their violations.

We eventually took the matter to the Oversight Board, who thankfully accepted our case.

After months of review and investigation, the Oversight Board has now overturned Facebook’s actions in four cases related to freedom of expression in Somaliland.

The verdict:

- The Board has overturned Meta’s decision to take down an independent journalist’s Facebook Page and four pieces of content covering current affairs in Somaliland, noting that there was no justification for their removal. Taking down the Page and content was inconsistent with Meta’s human rights responsibilities.

- Meta’s systems failed to safeguard independent journalism and public interest reporting in Somaliland.

- The company’s failure to include the journalist’s Page in its cross-check system highlights a broader systemic problem.

- The Board expressed particular concern that Meta’s systems to prevent over-enforcement did not prioritize public interest journalists working in the Somali language—especially concerning after Meta’s January announcement of a new approach to moderation promising “more speech and fewer mistakes.”

- Meta’s Journalist Registration Program, which offers enhanced security protections, does not cover Somalia, including Somaliland—this exclusion could have prevented the problem in this case.

- To better protect journalists in regions where media freedom is under threat, the Board recommends that Meta develop new criteria and systems to proactively enroll journalists’ Pages and accounts in its cross-check system to prevent enforcement errors.

[Aliya Bhatia @AliyaBhatia]

Do you speak Tamil and research/have thoughts on social media and content moderation? Continuing our work on non-English content moderation, we're looking at users' experiences online and Tamil is moderated online. Get in touch: [email protected] https://t.co/FnaNKX96nn

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

The Board is seeking public comments on two cases regarding content sharing critical views of immigration in Europe. Submit your comment by 11:59 PM (PST) on Thursday 31 October. Learn more at: https://t.co/92xZ56wwNN

[The Associated Press @AP]

Meta’s Oversight Board says viral video left on Facebook threatened LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria https://t.co/48phMeTHK9

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

Statements from Oversight Board Trust and Oversight Board Members on Appeals Centre Europe

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

The Board has selected new cases with content showing the assassination of Mexican mayoral candidate José Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos. These cases were selected to look at how content showing political violence can impact elections.

[TheMuslimLawyer @faisalkutty]

My post announcing that the #Meta Oversight Board has said the Facebook parent should not automatically remove a certain contentious the phrase which displays solidarity with Palestinians.

I merely reported the news by quoting from a news story.

If you are curious to see the post please see the post on X

https://t.co/UIsAKzg7SE

[Jacob Mchangama @JMchangama]

Meta’s @OversightBoard upholding the decision to allow the phrase “from the river to the sea” highlights a sharp contrast with Elon Musk’s ban on @X.

[The Future of Free Speech @SpeechFuture]

The Meta @OversightBoard's decision on moderation of the pro-Palestinian phrase “from the river to the sea” further undermines @elonmusk's self-styled image as a “free speech absolutist," argues @JMchangama at @unherd. https://t.co/KmKtlReu23

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

Today, the Oversight Board has issued an expedited decision on two cases involving posts about the protests following Venezuela's July 2024 presidential election, both mentioning state-backed armed groups, known as "colectivos."

[Alex Abdo @AlexanderAbdo]

This is a thoughtful (and, in my opinion, correct) decision from Meta's Oversight Board about social media posts that use the phrase "from the river to the sea."

https://t.co/G1HmWsrlVp

[Helen Morgan MP 🔶 @HelenMorganMP]

Fancy helping me represent the UK's greatest constituency?

I'm looking for a new Parliamentary Assistant.

Job details here: https://t.co/CIDkv5sgOS

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

🚨 Last chance to submit your public comment for our case related to Footage of Moscow Terrorist Attack.

If you or your organization feel you can contribute valuable perspectives, you can submit your comment here:
https://t.co/EEvARjckxP

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

🚨 Only one week left to submit your public comments for one of our latest cases!

The Board would appreciate public comments addressing how Meta should moderate the online dissemination of terrorist attack footage.

Submit your comment here: https://t.co/EEvARjckxP

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

Want to have a say in our decisions and help us hold Meta accountable?

Before deliberating cases, the Board invites individuals and organizations to share valuable perspectives that can help with reaching a decision on our cases.

Find out how to submit public comments here 👇

[7amleh حملة @7amleh]

In last week's Palestinian digital rights update:

📌Unchecked online violence against Palestinians is fuelling genocidal violence and systemic discrimination
📌Meta Accepts Key Oversight Board Recommendations to End Blanket Ban On “SHAHEED”

🔗 https://t.co/ZEsEVGTUTV

[Helen Morgan MP 🔶 @HelenMorganMP]

I am absolutely honoured to have been re-elected as the MP for North Shropshire.

THANK YOU to everyone who supported me throughout the campaign and backed me at the ballot box.

I can't wait to get stuck back into representing the greatest constituency in the UK.

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

The Oversight Board is delighted to announce that @SnMartinPamela has been appointed as a new Co-Chair of the Oversight Board.

🔗: https://t.co/UXokaENURw

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

Today, Meta shared an update on the company’s progress on implementing the Board’s recommendations made in our policy advisory opinion on the treatment of the term “shaheed” (شهيد).

A thread with more details ↓

https://t.co/a4BxzWh4w6

[Oversight Board @OversightBoard]

#ICYMI - Our Board Member @snmartinpamela was interviewed by @cjtenove from @UBCDemocracy for @CIGIonline. They discussed the crucial role of social media in electoral contexts and the challenges of ensuring free and fair elections.